1:43 scale models

[mancity4life]

Hi guys I am buying a few 1:43 scale model racing cars soon, all from le mans or fia gt. I just want to know, are they worth buying? Is there size "good" at all? And the detail, how is that?

All help appreciated. Thnx

[LeonOfTheDead]

It strongly depends on the brand, and cost. I have a Maserati MC12 GT1 Vitaphone in "limited edition", got it for 30 € and it's perfectly finished. Not the same can be said for the Zonda F I purchased at the factory, which was probably even more expensive iirc.
It's not a race car, but it doesn't make a difference when it comes to models.
I also have other older models about nineties' GT and LM cars, all well finished, got it for a few € too.
I think this (1:43) is the best size, a good compromise between detailing (larger cars lead to larger flaws, if there are any), cost an dimensions, which can be a bit of a problem when you have more than 100 models (130 or so atm).

[mancity4life]

Thnx. I guess i will be purchasing these models. I will be purchasing my Fia Gt team. Vitaphone Maserati MC12 just like the on you have from Ixo models, aswell as the a few other from Fia Gt and Le mans cars.

[madm3]

1/43 is the best size since you can have a huge collection but without taking up too much space. At the same time, detail is pretty good

[mancity4life]

thanks

[Matra et Alpine]

Quality of the detail and dimensions si "variable" in them all.
I would recommend seeing before buying as in my cololectinoIv'[e cars by the sme manufacturer with not so good comparisons.

"Usually" the more you pay the better quality and attention to detail.
HOWEVER, the number of EXCELLET Trofea, Ixo and Brumm models I've picked up on eBay for a few pounds is great. I put a bid in on every model I see and sometimes land laucy nobody else bids and get it for 1/10th list

THere is an excellent french organistion who are superb for specials and Le Mans cars ...MAFMA models cars miniatures automobiles maquettes modeles reduits

[Roentgen]

It really depends on the brand of models you're looking at. The 2 1:43 models I had are both made by the same company, Spark, and they mainly make Le Mans racing cars. They are all hand-made, so they aren't perfect, but that's the beauty of hand-made goods right? :-)

Detail wise, 1:43 can be just as detailed as 1:18. In some cases, they may even look better than 1:18s, because it's so small!

Also, I find 1:43 more collectable, because not only does it save space, they are also easier to handle, usually better packaged, and the range of 1:43s are MUCH more than any other scale.

Some of the best 1:43 makers include Spark, BBR, Bizarre, Redline, and MR. Minichamps, Autoart, Kyosho, and Ixo makes very good ones too.

[Roentgen]

Just thinking, we really should have a model section in the site :-)

[mancity4life]

thanks Roentgen. I am purchasing 4 Ixo models. I think they seem to look the best.

[LeonOfTheDead]

I wouldn't recommend Spark's models. It's not a matter of perfect models, meaning flows, but rather wrong details:
at Pagani factory there were Zonda S models, and the side mirrors were attached vertically, not horizontally. just saying...
The Zonda F model I bought have an horrible paint job for that price too.

[mancity4life]

O well crap happens (cant swear lol). I just purchased two Ixo models from ebay. I hope it turns out ok

[Matra et Alpine]

Leon, your examples proves what I'd said earlier.
I've SPARK models and they are near perfect

THings like mirrors though are usually details where the manufacturers final production version and the prototypes/drawings they earlier supplied to themodel makers were different "versions"..... or not known and the maker "guesses"

Hence why it's "best" if you can see the model before buying .. escpecially if more manufacturers do the same car !!

[Roentgen]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

I wouldn't recommend Spark's models. It's not a matter of perfect models, meaning flows, but rather wrong details:
at Pagani factory there were Zonda S models, and the side mirrors were attached vertically, not horizontally. just saying...
The Zonda F model I bought have an horrible paint job for that price too.

Yea, detail wise, my Furai had a minor error too (the rear view mirrors should be silver, but my one is painted body colour). But other than minor details like that, the general structure is very well proportioned and very realistic.

As with the paint job, all Spark models are hand-made, so you can't expect them to be perfect. I paid $100 NZDs for my model, and they're bits that are unpainted/scratched, and the Mazda badge doesn't stick properly. But as I said, that's the beauty of hand-made goods

[mancity4life]

I found that Ixo had no faults in the diecasts i purchased. From the pictures they looked perfect. No defects.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by Roentgen

Yea, detail wise, my Furai had a minor error too (the rear view mirrors should be silver, but my one is painted body colour). But other than minor details like that, the general structure is very well proportioned and very realistic.

As with the paint job, all Spark models are hand-made, so you can't expect them to be perfect. I paid $100 NZDs for my model, and they're bits that are unpainted/scratched, and the Mazda badge doesn't stick properly. But as I said, that's the beauty of hand-made goods

I think I'd painted it better than them considering the few airplane models I did in the past